Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:27 am

I recently bought a 1973 154 Cub and really like the tractor and when spring time hits I am going to redo the paint, nothing fancy just to keep the rust away. I kept getting a slow gas leak from the carb after I parked it. I finally figured out from a guy I work with that it had a gas shutoff but my question is, is the gas leak normal if you forget to shutoff the gas?

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:37 am

No. Is it leaking from the weep hole in the carb or from one of the fuel line fittings?

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:42 am

G'day and congrats on acquiring your 1st new to you Cub. The Cub-154 Lo-boys are kinda interesting and a lot of our members really like em. I am sure a number of them will respond. However, the fuel circuit is the same as the standard Cub - IH 3/4" updraft carb (usually), same type of fuel line etc... So to answer your question, no, a gas leak is not normal.

You will need to check the carb - probably the float is getting hung up or something similar. Reading Lurker Carl's Cub Carb Fixes, will help solve the situation. I recommend reading the articles so you can understand the IH carb better.

I am sure others will pop in with suggestions as what to look for in the carb - (I see Don already has - he is one of our carb guru's). However, since this is new to you I would recommend that you do a full and complete tune-up and would also recommend a complete tune-up of the fuel circuit. This is what I have done to eliminate any fuel leaks (and also because I have neuropathy problems - a conversion that makes it easier for me) - [url]How To Upgrade A Cub Fuel System[/url]

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

The Cub-154 Lo-Boy originally came with the IH 3/4" Updraft Carburetor (the one pictured in the image above). However, the Zenith was a replacement carb for the C-60 engine (Jim Becker would know those dates off hand, I don't). As Eugene said yours may have a Zenith but more than likely it will be the IH carb. Let us know which one you do have.

Either way we both agree on the likely problem - float - possibly affected by crud in the needle and seat. Check the cage assembly (Item # 9 in above parts breakdown) for dirt/varnish etc. You need to inspect it well. Also, as an aside you may also wish to the fuel sediment bowl as well.

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:24 pm

only the 184s came from the factory with a Zenith

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:47 pm

Thanks for all the responses I will definately check out what everyone suggested. I bought the tractor for $1200 delivered with a 60" (maybe a 59" depends how you measure) belly mower and a 60" front blade with brush guard that someone fabricated, the blade can be removed with just two pins. Right after I got the tractor the transmission got stuck in gear and I had to have the tractor towed, at that point it had a complete going through of PTO, clutch, transmission, and all the fluids changed. The mechanic did not touch the carb.

Re: Should 154 carb leak if gas is not shutoff?

Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:11 pm

Most of the maintenance on the 154 you can do yourself and that is including the carb. Many of us, including myself are not mechanics by trade or even by backyard-shadetree standards, but we learn and we maintain our own. The C-60 is a very easy engine to work on unless of course you are going into it's innards - then that changes the whole ball of wax. However, doing the carb is pretty simple. The only thing that you have to be aware of is the idle tube when you separate the two halves of the carb. You can snap that item pretty quickly and it is a $40.00 or so item.....

Let us know what you find out. And enjoy the ride - it will be memorable. Besides the company here is incomparable.